Route Driver

Description

Job Summary

The Driver performs routine motor vehicle operations. Work involves operating a medium duty truck and/or a heavy-duty tractor and trailer to transport laundry materials between various customer locations and the laundry and cleaning facility. This position works under general supervision of the Fleet Supervisor and General Manager, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement.

This position will be handling clean and soil linens in wheeled laundry carts. This position requires maintaining forms or records pertaining to vehicle operation. Completion of work requires use of established methods and/or techniques. Decisions are based on well-defined guidelines. The Driver has no financial responsibility but is accountable for assigned property. All tasks will be performed within established time frames.

Essential Job Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities

Driver may perform some or all of the following duties during a given shift:

• Properly operate a medium-duty truck and/or a heavy-duty truck and trailer between customer facilities to transport laundry products to and from the Company processing facility. Must be familiar with and operate the vehicle in accordance with federal regulations, Department of Transportation (DOT) rules and regulations including HOS (hours of service), if applicable
• Perform operator level vehicle and trailer preventative maintenance checks, both pre and post vehicle operation checks. Specific checks must be made before, during and after operations, including, but not limited to: 

(1) Check for proper fluid levels for crankcase oil, transmission and power steering fluid, and brake master-cylinder fluid prior to each trip.

(2) Check for proper tire pressure, including spare tire, on a daily basis.

(3) Make all safety checks (windshield wipers, lights, etc.) prior to, during, and after operations; and

(4) Follow all driver checklist items and perform all operator service on schedule.

• Account for and properly load and tie down laundry carts and cargo. Laundry carts, trucks and trailer must not be damaged in any way due to a failure to properly load and tie down the cargo. 
• Driver must: 

(1) Count carts to be loaded and confirm that this number matches the corresponding paperwork.

(2) Load the laundry carts using proper body mechanics.

(3) Tie down carts properly to eliminate excessive movement during transport; and

(4) Account for and unload cargo at the point of destination.

• Maintain the security of the truck’s cargo by repositioning carts as needed between deliveries and pickups
• Clean trailer interior after unloading soil laundry carts. The trailer must be properly cleaned based upon Division Laundry and Cleaning, Inc. standards/policy prior to loading clean items, including, but not limited to, clean the trailer walls, ceiling, and floor with steam, or with water pressure and a strong, acceptable disinfectant; and maintain a record of each cleaning, and file those reports with the Fleet Supervisor.
• Process paperwork to fulfill departmental needs, including:

(1) Initiate processes and complete paperwork according to guidelines and without significant errors or time delays; and

(2) Complete all paperwork assigned by Manager to include all reports concerning equipment operational status and load count.

• Load and unload clean and soil linens in wheeled laundry carts
• Deliver linens to customer locations in Company tractor trailers and box trucks.
• Operate lift gates on trucks when loading and unloading carts and placing carts in appropriate locations.
• Verify all carts specified in the manifest are included in the delivery and obtain a confirmation signature from a customer representative on the manifest.
• Prepare the truck for the next shift, including making sure truck is fueled and clean, removing any personal items, and putting keys, fuel receipts and manifests in proper areas
• Report vehicle problems to the Supervisor.
• Report any customer feedback.
• Occasionally fill in for absent drivers and perform supplemental deliveries as needed.
• Maintain a valid Class A (CDL-A), Class B (CDL-B) or class C driver’s license as appropriate for vehicle being utilized.
• Demonstrates friendly and respectful behavior in the work environment
• Additional duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 21 years of age
• 1 year or more experience driving a medium duty box truck and/or tractor trailer with no DOT violations or accidents
• Valid Class C or CDL-A or CDL B driver’s license.
• Must have a clean Motor Vehicle Record (3 years), pass DOT background check and physical examination.
• Pass a DOT regulated drug screen, in accordance with applicable laws.
• Ability to read and write in English.
• Good communication skills with internal and external customers.
• Ability to perform the basic functions of the job, including reading, writing, and simple math calculations.
• Basic computer skills (i.e., ability to use ELD’s to track HOS), if applicable.
• Physical ability to push and pull carts as the job requires.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule that may include nights, weekends, and holidays

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in the service industry

Requirements

Physical Requirements

• Ability to drive commercial vehicle.
• Frequent sitting in trucks driving to customer locations.
• Ascend and descend steps to truck and loading facilities.
• Physical demands include constant standing and frequent walking throughout entire work shift. Maintain body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, or crouching on uneven work surfaces in customer facilities as well as the processing facility.
• Regular reaching above and below shoulder height, twisting, applying pressure, grasping, and pulling (including using fingers, thumbs, and palm) items, and loading vehicle in a repetitive motion.
• Lift and raise objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position which occurs regularly throughout the shift requiring substantial use of the upper arms, shoulders, and back muscles. Lift and handle linens (clean and soiled) and textile products of up to 50 pounds. Lift and handle items that may include, but are not limited to, dock plates and cart liners
• Regularly pushing/pulling both empty and full wheeled laundry carts of varying weights and sizes, potentially up to 800 pounds. 
• Constant and throughout an entire 8-hour shift, fingering, fine manipulation, picking and grasping primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm. 
• Repetitive hand movement includes simple and power grasping and pushing and pulling items.
• Heavy work, including exerting force and lifting up to 50 pounds on a frequent basis and exerting force and lifting up to 20 pounds regularly to move objects. 
• Pulling, using upper arms and shoulders to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus both while driving and while performing other work duties.
• Required to wear and use personal protective equipment as needed. 
• Ability to hear for safety and awareness of surroundings.
• Ability to meet the physical demands for the entire shift.

Work Environment

This position frequently spends time in company trucks performing delivery and pickups to healthcare and hospitality customer locations.

EEO Statement

Employees of Division Laundry are protected by federal laws, Presidential Executive Orders, and other laws designed to protect employees from discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation, parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or any other non-merit based factor. These protections extend to all management practices and decisions, including recruitment and hiring practices, appraisal systems, promotions, and training and career development programs. 

Employees of Division Laundry are also protected against retaliation. Consistent with federal laws, acts of retaliation against an employee who engages in a protected activity such as, whistle blowing, or the exercise of any appeal or grievance right provided by law will not be tolerated. Managers and supervisors of Division Laundry and Cleaning, Inc. are also reminded of their responsibility to prevent, document, and promptly correct harassing conduct in the workplace.